| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Senior Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr. | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Stanley Kelley | Member | |
| Mr. Harry B. Oberg | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his military records be corrected to show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. He states, in a self-authored statement, that he was awarded the badge and provides photographs of him in his uniform. He states that if his records are corrected to reflect award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, he will also be entitled to the Bronze Star Medal. The applicant also notes that he was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 358th Infantry and not Battery C of the 204th Field Artillery Battalion, as his separation document indicates.
3. The applicant's records were lost or destroyed during the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. Information contained herein was reconstructed from alternative sources, including information contained on the applicant's War Department Adjutant General Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge), which he provided.
4. The applicant entered active duty in January 1943 and served overseas between May 1944 and November 1945. Orders published in September 1944 by Headquarters, 358th Infantry awarded the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge. At the time of the award, the orders indicated that the applicant was assigned to Company I of the 358th Infantry. Company I would have been part of the 3rd Battalion. The Combat Infantryman Badge was, however, omitted from his separation document. The applicant was discharged on 3 December 1945 at Fort Dix, New Jersey as a result of demobilization. His "organization" on his separation document is recorded as Battery C, 204th Field Artillery Battalion.
5. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge for service during World War II. Awards of the Bronze Star Medal based on either badge are commonly referred to as conversion awards.
6. Technical Manual 12-235, which prescribed the policy and procedures for the preparation and distribution of separation documents during the period in question, states that the last unit, or similar element to which the individual was assigned, rather than the element of which he was a part while moving to a separation activity will be entered in item 6 (organization) of the War Department Adjutant General Form 53-55.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The evidence confirms the applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. His record should be corrected accordingly. Based on his Combat Infantryman Badge, the applicant is entitled to a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award.
2. The absence of the applicant's military records makes it impossible to determine the applicant's units of assignment during his military service. There is no evidence, which confirms whether the organization recorded on the applicant's separation document was erroneous, or not. However, the orders confirming award of the Combat Infantryman Badge do confirm that the applicant was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 358th Infantry in 1944, at the time the badge was awarded. The Board recognizes and understands the importance that units, which are of particular importance to our World War II veterans, be recorded in some form on historical records. As such, the Board concludes that it would be appropriate, and in the interest of justice and equity, to enter in the remarks section of the applicant's separation document that he was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 358th Infantry while deployed overseas during World War II. The recording of that information, although an exception to normal policies, would provide a historical record for the applicant and serve as confirmation that he was assigned to that organization at one point during his military service.
3. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:
a. by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge;
b. by awarding him a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his Combat Infantryman Badge; and
c. by showing in the remarks section of the applicant's separation document that he was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 358th Infantry while deployed overseas during World War II.
BOARD VOTE:
__RVO__ ___SK __ ___HBO_ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002074462 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20021219 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001062930C070421
The applicant requests correction of item 6 (Organization) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show he served in the 358th Infantry Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows award of the Combat Infantryman Badge in item 31 (Military Qualification and Date). There are no orders available to the Board which authorize award of the Purple Heart to the applicant.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002077821C070215
His award of the Purple Heart confirms that he actively participated in ground combat. The Board concludes the applicant met the basic qualification requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and his records should be corrected accordingly. The Board notes that based on his entitlement to the Combat Infantryman Badge, the applicant is also entitled to an award of the Bronze Star Medal as conversion award.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070001381C071029
The evidence of record shows that the FSM was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and is therefore eligible for award of the Bronze Star Medal based upon award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. The evidence of record shows the FSM served in five campaigns, and his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the EAME Campaign Medal with five bronze service stars. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his WD...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002074020C070403
I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual. There is no evidence in the records available to the Board which shows that the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Bronze Star Medal. There is no evidence the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050005957C070206
LaVerne M. Douglas | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The applicant’s military records are not available for review. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting the entry, "HQ BTRY 204 FA BN" in item 6 on his WD AGO Form 53-55; b. adding the entry, " Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 357th Infantry...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090012721
The evidence of record shows the applicant was wounded in combat as a result of enemy artillery fire on 18 November 1944. Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of this Combat Infantryman Badge and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the applicant the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 18...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004103785C070208
The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge, with an effective date of 21 December 1945 shows, in Item 33 (Decorations and Citations), that he was awarded the Purple Heart; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; the Good Conduct Medal; the World War II Victory Medal, and a bronze service arrowhead [correctly known as a...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 03092176C070212
The citations showing award of the Silver Star and the Bronze Star Medal for heroism show that the FSM was a combat infantryman with an infantry company; therefore, entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. The evidence shows that the FSM is entitled to award of the Expert Infantryman Badge. As a result, the Board recommends that the Army Review Boards Agency at St. Louis prepare an appropriate certificate identifying the FSM by name and Army service number, showing that he was...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130013971
The applicant's complete military records are not available to the Board for review. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action against the enemy. The applicant has provided no evidence which shows he received the Silver Star.
ARMY | BCMR | CY1997 | 9709884C070209
The applicant requests correction of his military records to reflect award of the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, World War II Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Heroic Adventurous Achievement with V-Device, campaign ribbons for Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland and all other medals and ribbons he is entitled. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge are entitled to award of Bronze Star Medal. c....